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Saturday, November 3, 2007 12:00 AM

How Oprah ruined the marathon

America's competitive spirit has been wrecked by feel-good amateurs like Oprah whose only goal is to stagger across the finish line.
By Edward McClelland

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  • Saturday, November 3, 2007 03:17 PM

    Frustrated and lashing out

    Marathon running is not a team sport, it is impossible to blame your failings on anyone but yourself. Oprah running slowly doesn't make the American Olympic athletes run more slowly. The US doesn't value things that take a long time to master, so training a runner from the age of 18 to 28 is not done in the US as it is done in other places, hence we lose marathons.

    I do see that a very American trait is on display here, failing at something and blaming everyone but yourself.

    —azathoth Read azathoth's other letters

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